Legendary Austin Tex-Mex restaurant says adios to longtime location

Legendary Austin Tex-Mex restaurant says adios to longtime location

As a wave of restaurant closures continues to sweep over Austin, not even Tex-Mex is untouchable. El Arroyo's 20-year-old outpost in the Far West neighborhood closed up shop on Thursday, April 21.

This latest casualty of Austin's food scene sings a similar tune to previous restaurant closures. "The store really needed to be remodeled, there wasn't enough lease term left to justify a remodel now, and we weren't interested in renewing with that landlord due to an ongoing dispute between us," said owner and Austin Landmarks CEO Ellis Winstanley in a statement to CultureMap.

The original El Arroyo on West Fifth Street will remain open, serving tasty tacos, unbeatable $1 margarita specials, and snarky one-liners on its famous marquee.

Austin Landmarks, the restaurant group behind El Arroyo, also runs Austin institutions Star Seeds Cafe, The Tavern, Hill's Cafe, and three Abel's locations. None will be affected by the Far West closure.